senior manager, Channel Strategy Global Communications

Starbucks • Seattle, WA

2d • Onsite

About The Position

Starbucks is seeking a seasoned and strategic senior manager, Channel Strategy to join the Global Communications organization. This role will serve as a center of excellence for how Starbucks shows up across owned and paid channels—externally and internally—ensuring our multi-channel ecosystem is cohesive, insight-driven, and built for connection at scale. This leader will own channel strategy across organic social, paid social, creator engagement, Viva Engage, and partner advocacy, while shaping how these channels work together as part of an integrated, end‑to‑end experience that also includes web, internal channels, and emerging platforms. The ideal candidate brings a strong point of view on modern, multi‑channel communications, is fluent in social and digital platforms, understands how paid and organic work together, and can lead confidently through moments of opportunity as well as moments of risk, including digital crisis situations. This role will partner closely with the Audience & Insights team, Brand, Marketing, Internal Communications, and external agencies to ensure Starbucks channel ecosystem is audience-first, platform-native, and continuously evolving.

Requirements

• 8+ years of experience in channel strategy, digital communications, or social media, including experience at a large, complex brand or organization.
• Demonstrated experience leading organic and paid social strategies, including working with external agencies for paid social execution.
• Strong understanding of creator engagement models, influencer ecosystems, and platform-native content strategies.
• Experience managing internal or employee-facing digital channels (e.g., Viva Engage, intranets, internal social platforms) preferred.
• Proven ability to lead through digital reputation management and crisis scenarios, with sound judgment and comfort operating under pressure.
• Experience partnering closely with audience insights, analytics, or social listening teams, and using data to inform strategy.
• Prior people management experience, with a track record of developing and inspiring high-performing teams.
• A clear point of view on the future of multi‑channel communications, including the role of emerging platforms and evolving audience behaviors.
• Excellent strategic, written, and verbal communication skills; ability to influence at senior levels and translate complexity into clarity.
• Strong organizational skills, with the ability to prioritize, pivot, and lead in fast-paced, ambiguous environments.

Responsibilities

• Own the channel strategy and roadmap across organic social, paid social, creator engagement, Viva Engage, and partner advocacy, ensuring consistency, clarity, and impact across platforms.
• Lead the integration of paid and organic social, partnering with agencies on paid social execution while setting clear strategic direction, performance goals, and optimization frameworks.
• Oversee creator engagement strategy, including approach, guardrails, and alignment with brand, marketing, and communications priorities.
• Provide strategic leadership for Viva Engage as a core internal channel, ensuring it supports partner connection, engagement, and enterprise priorities.
• Guide and evolve Starbucks’ partner advocacy approach, ensuring partners are empowered, supported, and aligned with brand and communications objectives.
• Partner closely with the Audience & Insights lead to jointly own the relationship with Sprout Social, leveraging insights, listening, reporting, and governance to inform strategy and decision-making.
• Develop a strong point of view on the end‑to‑end, multi‑channel experience, including how social, web, internal channels, and emerging platforms work together to serve audiences and business goals.
• Act as a senior leader in digital crisis management, helping prepare playbooks, assess risk, guide real‑time response, and adjust channel strategies during sensitive or fast-moving moments.
• Lead, manage, and develop a high‑performing team, setting clear expectations, coaching talent, and fostering growth, inclusion, and accountability.
• Establish channel best practices, governance, and operating models, including roles, responsibilities, workflows, and metrics.
• Continuously evaluate emerging platforms, tools, and trends, making recommendations on experimentation, investment, or de-prioritization.
• Influence and collaborate across Global Communications and cross‑functional partners, bringing clarity and strategic leadership in complex, matrixed environments.

Benefits

• medical, dental, vision, basic and supplemental life insurance, and other voluntary insurance benefits.
• short-term and long-term disability
• paid parental leave
• family expansion reimbursement
• paid vacation from date of hire
• sick time (accrued at 1 hour for every 25 hours worked)
• eight paid holidays
• two personal days per year
• 401(k) retirement plan with employer match
• discounted company stock program (S.I.P.)
• Starbucks equity program (Bean Stock)
• incentivized emergency savings
• financial well-being tools
• 100%25 upfront tuition coverage for a first-time bachelor’s degree through Arizona State University’s online program via the Starbucks College Achievement Plan
• student loan management resources
• access to other educational opportunities
• backup care
• DACA reimbursement

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed